Cigarette holder for ash receptacles

ABSTRACT

An attachment for cylindrical containers, such as coffee cans, comprises an elongated member having a main body portion and an extension of reduced cross section. The body portion has walls flaring downwardly from its top or ridge and attaching means near its end opposite the handle for frictional engagement with the top of the container; the handle is of reduced section extending from the ridge and arranged to rest on the top edges of containers of differing diameters within a predetermined range of diameters so that the body portion may be supported for use in a range of sizes of containers. Recesses for holding cigarettes horizontally across the container are arranged at spaced intervals along the ridge of the main body.

Wunsch [111 3,777,767 Dec. 11, 1973 CIGARETTE HOLDER FOR ASH RECEPTACLES [76] Inventor: William K. Wunsch, 2627 Clarkson St., Denver, Colo. 80210 [22] Filed: Sept. 28, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 293,130

[52] 11.5. CI. 131/257 [51] Int. Cl. A24f 13/22 [58] Field of Search 1.31/231, 240 R, 240 GB, 131/257 [56] References Cited v UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,172,161 9/1939 DuPrey 131/240R 2,991,789 7/1961 Smith et a1 131/257 2,011,242 8/1935 Girard 131/240 R 2,071,394 2/1937 Douglas 131/240 R UX FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 720,710 12/1954 Great Britain 131/240 R Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich Att0meyWm. Griffith Edwards 57 ABSTRACT An attachment for cylindrical containers, such as coffee cans, comprises an elongated member having a main body portion and an extension of reduced cross section. The body portion has walls flaring downwardly from its top or ridge and attaching means near its end opposite the handle for frictional engagement with the top of the container; the handle is of reduced section extending from the ridge and arranged to rest on the top edges of containers of differing diameters within a predetermined range of diameters so that the body portion may be supported for use in a range of sizes of containers. Recesses for holding cigarettes horizontally across the container are arranged at spaced intervals along the ridge of the main body.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures CIGARETTE HOLDER FOR ASH RECEP'IACLES My invention relates to ash trays and particularly to an improved cigarette supporting attachment for use on cylindrical containers having diameters within a range of sizes.

Attachments have been provided heretofore which may be secured to the opposite side walls at the tops for circular containers, each such attachment being usable only with a container of a predetermined diameter. Available containers for such use include coffee cans and other product containers which are available in a wide range of sizes; thus a container of the size required for such attachment may not be available when needed.

It is an object of my invention to provide a cigarette holding attachment for cylindrical containers which may be used equally well on containers of different diameters within a substantial range of sizes.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved cigarette holding device for cylindrical containers which is of simple construction and easy to install and use. I

Briefly, in carrying out the objects of my invention in one embodiment thereof, I provide an elongated member or bar of inverted V-shap'ed cross section constructed from sheet metal. A main body portion is ofa length to fit withina container of the smallest size to be used and has an extension of reduced cross section. The member may be attached to a container at its end remote from the extension, and, forthis purpose, has a pair of opposite downwardly opening slots near its end which may be fitted on the top edge ofa container. The extension rests on the opposite top edge of the container and prevents downward displacement. Upwardly opening cigarette holding recesses are formed at spaced positions along the upper side of the main body portion.

The featuresof novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed toand forming a part of this specification. My invention itself, however, both ,as to its organization and manner of use, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1- is a perspective view of the top portion of a container fitted with a cigarette support embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a smaller can fitted with the support of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation view of the support of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the support; and

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the support.

' Referring now to the drawing, FIG. 1 illustrates a coffee can or similar cylindrical container to which is attached a generally elongated cigarette receiving and supporting member 11 embodying my invention. The supporting member has been shown as constructed from a strip of sheet metal bent in V-shaped configuration and having a main body portion 12 which extends down into the container from its far end and is formed to provide a reducedsection or extension member 13 which rests on the opposite edge of the container 10 which is the near edge as viewed in FIG. 1. The body portion is frictionally attached to the edge of the container by a pair of downwardly opening slots 14, one of which is visible in FIG. 1.

A cigarette 15 has been shown supported on the main body portion 12 in one of four upwardly opening recesses or notches 16 formed at spaced positions along the top or ridge of the portion 12. The entire cigarette is held'over the open top of the container and cannot fall to the outside as it burns. The recesses 16 are made of a size to hold the cigarette resting on the lower edges of the recesses, the opposite bottom edges of each recess being at the same level. Live ashes drop into the container 10 and the metal of the bar 11 tends to dissipate heat and extinguish live cigarettes which burn to the wall of the bar.

Because of the inverted V-shape and since each notch 16 presents an open bottom, there is a minimum tendency to accumulate ashes and tars on the member 11. The bar is also readily removable from the container for cleaning.

The slots 14 are made of a size to fit and frictionally hold the end of the bar on the tops of cylindrical containers having sizes within a selected range of diameters. In FIG. 2 the bar 11 is shown mounted on a container 17 of a substantially smaller diameter than the container 10. An enlargement of the slots 14 may be provided at their tops as indicated at 18; this enlargement will accommodate the bead present on many containers such as coffee cans.

The enlarged views, FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show more clearly the structural features of the member 11.. As shown in these figures the notches 16 are somewhat wider at the top and provide a slight pinching effect on a cigarette pressed into a notch. For ease in pressing the end of the body into position on the container, the mouths of the slots 14 are made to flare outwardly to receive the edge of the container as shown at 20 in FIGS. 3 and 5. The frictional engagement of the top edge of the container in the slots 14 holds the bar I] securely in place with the extension 13 resting on the opposite edge of the container. The supporting member 11 is adapted to extend horizontally across the openend of containers such as those shown in FIGS. I and 2.

The downwardly open V configuration may be at any desired angle and has been illustrated in FIG. 4 as a 45 angle. This angle has been found well suited to the purposes of the member 11; and the tendency of the sharp corners ofthe bottom edges of the V of the extension 13 to bite into the container edge serves to minimize slipping of the extension on the container wall during use.

While I have disclosed a specific configuration of the cigarette support of my invention, various other modifications and applications will occur to those skilled in the art. I do not, therefore, desire my invention to be limited to the illustrated form and I intend by the appended claims to cover all embodiments with the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A readily mountable cigarette receiver for positioning across the open top ofa cylindrical container or the like having upright walls, said receiver extending across the open top comprising:

a horizontally arranged elongated member having a top ridge and side walls extending downwardly and outwardly from said top ridge and including a main body portion and a second portion of relatively reduced cross section extending longitudinally therefrom, said main body portion having means providing oppositely located downwardly opening slots in said side walls adjacent the end remote from said second portion for receiving the top of the container on one side of the open top thereof and positioning said receiver on the container with said body portion extending over the open container and with said second portion resting on the rim of the container and extending radially beyond the open top thereof and preventing downward displacement of the receiver, and means on said main body portion forsupporting a cigarette horizontally over the open top of the container. 2. A cigarette receiver as recited in claim 1 wherein the cross sections of said main body and of said second portion are V-shaped and wherein the bottom edges of said second portion are in the same horizontal plane and in substantial alignment with the tops of the slot means in the side walls of said main body whereby said receiver may be supported in a substantially horizontal position on the container.

3. A cigarette receiver as recited in claim 2 wherein said receiver is constructed from sheet metal and wherein the bottom edges of said second portion have sharp corners and tend to biteinto the top of the container on which said receiver is positioned.

4. A cigarette receiver as recited in claim 2 wherein the slot means in the walls of said body portion are dimensioned to hold the receiver securely in place in frictional engagement with the container. 

1. A readily mountable cigarette receiver for positioning across the open top of a cylindrical container or the like having upright walls, said receiver extending across the open top comprising: a horizontally arranged elongated member having a top ridge and side walls extending downwardly and outwardly from said top ridge and including a main body portion and a second portion of relatively reduced cross section extending longitudinally therefrom, said main body portion having means providing oppositely located downwardly opening slots in said side walls adjacent the end remote from said second porTion for receiving the top of the container on one side of the open top thereof and positioning said receiver on the container with said body portion extending over the open container and with said second portion resting on the rim of the container and extending radially beyond the open top thereof and preventing downward displacement of the receiver, and means on said main body portion for supporting a cigarette horizontally over the open top of the container.
 2. A cigarette receiver as recited in claim 1 wherein the cross sections of said main body and of said second portion are V-shaped and wherein the bottom edges of said second portion are in the same horizontal plane and in substantial alignment with the tops of the slot means in the side walls of said main body whereby said receiver may be supported in a substantially horizontal position on the container.
 3. A cigarette receiver as recited in claim 2 wherein said receiver is constructed from sheet metal and wherein the bottom edges of said second portion have sharp corners and tend to bite into the top of the container on which said receiver is positioned.
 4. A cigarette receiver as recited in claim 2 wherein the slot means in the walls of said body portion are dimensioned to hold the receiver securely in place in frictional engagement with the container. 